Neurodiversity and business travel: Removing barriers, not opportunities

Business travel can be stressful at the best of times, but for neurodivergent travellers, that stress can be magnified. Unfamiliar environments, changes in routine, and sensory overload can make navigating airports, hotels, and meetings an overwhelming experience.

With around 20% of the UK population identifying as neurodivergent, including people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, the need for inclusive travel policies is clear. Yet, the barriers neurodivergent travellers face can be easy to overlook if uninformed. As Neurodiversity Awareness Week (17-21 March) begins, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how the business travel industry - and businesses themselves - can better support neurodivergent colleagues.

Understanding the challenges

Neurodivergent individuals often experience heightened sensitivity to noise, lights and crowds, which can make common business travel experiences - such as airport security checks or navigating a busy conference -particularly challenging. Even seemingly simple tasks like booking travel, organising itineraries, or adjusting to an unfamiliar hotel room can be overwhelming.

For some, informal networking events can feel like an impossible social hurdle, while others may struggle with processing written or visual information quickly in a new city. The solution isn’t about avoiding travel but making small, meaningful changes that can significantly enhance accessibility and comfort.

“Don’t plan for me without me”

The business travel industry is making strides towards greater neuro-inclusion, but real change starts with listening. Travel Managers should engage directly with neurodivergent employees and delegates to ensure that policies and processes reflect their needs. Token gestures won’t cut it - genuine engagement is key.

Industry solutions: paving the way for inclusive travel

Many suppliers are already stepping up to make business travel more accessible:

• Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre Heathrow has a dedicated calm room for guests who need a quiet space.
• Lime Venue Portfolio has rolled out a neurodiversity toolkit across 80+ venues, offering practical strategies and resources to create sensory-friendly environments.
• Marriott International, in partnership with The Neu Project, is working towards a more neuroinclusive event experience.
• United Airlines has introduced an app feature allowing passengers to discreetly flag invisible disabilities to flight attendants for better support during their journey.
• EventWell partners with organisations to provide wellbeing hubs at conferences and events, offering delegates a retreat from overwhelming environments, ensuring they can engage at their own pace.

Clarity’s approach to neuro-inclusion

At Clarity, we believe in putting people at the heart of everything we do. That means ensuring our workplace initiatives, company culture, and business travel solutions for our customers are inclusive and accessible.

Internally, we’re committed to fostering a more inclusive workplace. We provide Sunflower Lanyards - a globally recognised symbol for non-visible disabilities - to our people who wish to discreetly communicate that they may need extra support or understanding. We also encourage open conversations through initiatives like our Healthy Space Team, who will hold a Time2Talk session on neurodiversity this week to raise awareness and provide a safe space for discussion.

We are proud to be a Level 1 Disability Confident Employer, ensuring equal opportunities for disabled candidates through both employment and apprenticeships. By offering accessible opportunities and the right support, we empower individuals to build a lasting career with us. As a recognised Mindful Employer, we continue to develop an environment where all individuals feel valued, respected and supported.

Our dedicated community group, made up of passionate colleagues, actively drives business improvements to make Clarity a truly neurodivergent-friendly company. To further support this, we provide Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) training for our managers, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to better support their teams. Additionally, all employees have access to eLearning courses on DEIB and neurodiversity, ensuring awareness and understanding continue to grow across the business.

Ashleigh Jackson, our Senior Learning and Development Consultant, has been at the forefront of these efforts. She shares:

‘Creating a neurodivergent-friendly workplace is something I’m incredibly passionate about. At Clarity, we’re not just making promises - we’re driving real change. Through accessible technology, training, partnerships, and our dedicated community group, we’re ensuring an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.’

Beyond our own initiatives, we actively collaborate with industry partners who share our commitment to neuro-inclusion. By working with organisations like EventWell, Lime Venue Portfolio, Radisson Hotels, United Airlines, and Marriott International, we help drive meaningful change and ensure our customers have access to a network of suppliers that prioritise accessibility and inclusion.

As part of this commitment, our proprietary corporate travel booking technology, ClarityGo, has been accredited with WCAG 2.2 LevelAA accessibility standards by the Digital Accessibility Centre. This milestone reflects our ongoing dedication to developing intuitive and accessible technology for business travellers, ensuring a seamless experience for neurodivergent users. You can read more about the accreditation here.

Takeaways for businesses

Neuro-inclusion shouldn’t be an afterthought, it should be a core part of travel and workplace policies. Here are some key steps businesses can take:

1. Engage with neurodivergent employees to ensure your travel policies reflect their needs.
2. Make policies truly accessible by considering formats, tone of voice and colour use. Offer flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
3. Assess suppliers on their ability to provide accessible and inclusive products/services. Monitor their performance through traveller feedback.
4. Consider the end-to-end user experience, from booking to arrival, through the lens of neurodivergent travellers.
5. Shift the focus from conditions to barriers. Ensure teams are trained to understand the challenges neurodivergent travellers face and are prepared to provide support.

Throughout Neurodiversity Awareness Week and beyond, let’s take the opportunity to celebrate the strengths of neurodivergent individuals and work towards a more inclusive business travel experience. Because when we create environments where everyone can thrive, we all move forward together.